Australia: Huawei Banned From 5G Network Project

What Happened: Australia's government has decided to ban Chinese company Huawei from providing equipment for the country's 5G network, Reuters reported Aug. 22.

Why It Matters: The ban is part of Australia's ongoing efforts to balance national security concerns against its economic relationship with China. In this case, Australia has chosen to follow the United States' lead by limiting Chinese access to sensitive areas of the country's infrastructure.

Background: In the past year, Australia has increased efforts to defend against potential Chinese political and economic influence. Intelligence assessments from both Australia and the United States have indicated that poses a potential national security risk.